WEALTH OF INSECT LIFE 



her body she skillfully drills a hole into the tree. When 

 the ovipositor enters the burrow she deposits an egg 

 in it. The larva that hatches from this egg crawls 

 along the burrow until it finds the wood-borer. This 

 wood-borer is a soft-bodied larva. To this the young 

 Thalessa fastens itself, and subsists upon its blood until 

 ready to pupate. It pupates within the burrow of the 

 horn-tail. Sometimes Thalessa is unable to extricate 

 her ovipositor, and is held fast until she dies. 



Stinging Hymenoptera. Among these the female is 

 with few exceptions provided with a sting at the end of 

 the abdomen. Usually the f ootless - - why footless? 

 larvae are reared by the females in cells constructed for 

 the purpose. To this group belong ants, bees, and 

 wasps; these have been discussed elsewhere. (See 

 pages 62-88.) 



